As the rainy season is settling in, MMC for Transport Kenny Kunene led #OperationRestore in Midrand’s various wards.
He said the aim of #OperationLungisa #OperationLokisa #OperasieHerstel was aimed at mitigating flooding in Midrand’s wards.
Wards 92, 110, 112 and 132 were targeted during the operation where they conducted deep patching of potholes, and clearing of storm water drains and kerb inlets, also known as KIs.
The session was attended by Ward 110 councillor Angie Mphaho, 112’s Lerato Mphefo and 132’s Annette Deppe on October 16, at the Boulders Shopping Centre.
The first session started outside the Boulders Taxi rank where they cleaned a heavily blocked KI.
After opening the KI, Kunene said they would be in Region A for two weeks.
“There is a taxi rank nearby, and there are small business owners who dispose of their litter into the KIs. The litter and bottles block the flow of water which then results in flooding because water cannot run under the KIs. The kerb inlets are not dumping sites and we appeal to the community not to dump into the storm water drainage,” said Kunene.
He said #OperationRestore has made a huge impact, including patching over 100 000 potholes across the city since its establishment in March.
They went to the Midrand Police Station entrance on Oracle CI where the road was badly damaged and riddled with potholes. They conducted a full road resurfacing.
Kunene was accompanied by the Johannesburg Road Agency Board members, and acting CEO Zweli Nyathi will be hosting the #OperationRestore.
Nyathi said service delivery was not seasonal and it had to happen every day despite adverse weather conditions.
“The colleagues on the ground are working very hard. We will be embarking on a rigorous reinstatement programme in the entire city. Secondly, we all know that proactive maintenance is better than reactive when something is already being damaged. We don’t want to find ourselves in a situation where we will be reactive to a problem.”
The fortnight programme’s main focus will be deep patching, pothole patching, channel clearing, storm water drains, level 1 KI cleaning, replacing manhole covers, road markings, grading of gravel roads, reinstatement and sidewalks.
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